Warrensburg weather not as bad as some might think
Mar 12, 2010, 11:53 PM
By ELIZABETH ELLIS Digitalburg
WARRENSBURG, Mo.--Although the weather has been much improved lately, the weekend forecast for March 12, 13 and 14 has more than 60 percent chance of rain with a slight chance of snow. However, earlier in the year, Warrensburg saw a lot of snow.
The snow in Warrensburg never seems to be enough to do more than make it cold and miserable outside. Some UCM students are slightly more optimistic.
“It’s not as bad as ice storms in the past,” Tyler Bruns, a junior religious studies major said. “I mean, it is bad, but not as bad as it could be.” Not everyone agrees though.
“I’m from Texas, so this is really cold for me,” Madison Williams, a freshmen exercise science major said. “I mean the snow is nice, but really cold.”
“It’s been unpredictable,” Sam Brunton, a freshmen biology pre-vet major said. “It may look beautiful outside, but then you go out and realize nothing about it is beautiful.”
Aside from its beauty and convenience in making projectiles, snow has another benefit over ice—it is easier to clear off roads.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), $5.2 million was spent on snow and ice removal in 2009—that includes salaries of workers, equipment and chemicals. So far, in 2010 MoDOT reports about $3.2 million spent on snow and ice removal. Of course, winter is not over just yet.
“Snow is easier to drive on than ice,” Darrell Daugherty, a maintenance superintendent at MoDOT said. “With snow, if you drive the correct speed, you will be all right. Ice is worse—you can still have an accident when driving slow. Ice winters are much worse than snow winters.”
“I try not to drive if it’s too bad,” Stephanie Bibb, a sophomore photography major, said.
“I always drive carefully, regardless,” Brunton said. “However, my friends now that’s a different story.”
Bad roads are always dangerous to drive on, and school cancellation can be necessary during winter months. This winter, Warrensburg schools have missed six days of classes.
“Typically, the county roads are the ones that cause us concern,” Deborah Orr, the superintendent of schools in Warrensburg said. “The county road crews do an excellent job but the magnitude of roadway miles makes it extremely difficult for them.” Thus far, she said, the missed days shouldn’t affect graduation any.
“School cancellations are difficult decisions,” Orr said. “We try to wait as long as possible to see if there is a possibility that roads may be cleared; however, when we believe that conditions are such that student safety is jeopardized, we cancel school.”
UCM doesn’t cancel classes nearly as easily as the local schools, because many of the students live on campus.
“I think classes should be cancelled on a professor-by-professor basis,” Isaac Flint, a sophomore psychology major said.
“I would like them to cancel classes,” Bruns said, “but at the same time, they shouldn’t. This semester feels rushed enough as it is. All of my classes are behind schedule already. Night classes might be nice once in a while though—those seem to have more of the nontraditional students.”
“I think there should be a certain temperature where they cancel because it is not appropriate for students to be outside,” Brunton said.
“When your fingers start to turn purple walking to class—they should definitely cancel,” Aliesa Bergman, a freshmen design major agreed.
